Portable series electrical lighting outfit



L. BARNETT PORTABLE SERIES ELECTRICAL LIGHTING OUTFIT Filed May 28,

Aug'. 15, 1933.

Zla.

INVEN TOR.

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a Il Il l g lll Patented ug. 15, A1933 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE PORTABLE SERIES ELECTRICAL LIGHTING OUTFIT This invention relatesto electric lighting sets` and more particularly is directed to an improved construction of portable series lighting outfits for display and ornamental illumination such as used for Christmas tree decoration and other purposes.

Oneobject of the invention is to provide an improved electric lighting outfit comprising interchangeable parts which may be sold as separate units and which are easily and quickly assembled and interconnected in circuit by even those mechanically and electrically unskilled without requiring the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable series circuit electric light# ing outfit in which the length of the conductor wires between the several lamp sockets or the number of lamp sockets in circuit may be readily varied to conform with the requirements of installation.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an improved portable lighting outiit of the character described comprising few and simple parts which shall be very cheap to manufacture, and practical and eicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated inthe following claim.

1n the accompanying drawing, in which is shown variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of a portable Christmas tree lighting outt constructed to embody the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken through one of the lamp socket units showing the interior construction.'

Flg is a top plane view of a plug cap unit of the improvedoutlt.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 4 4 in Fig. -3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a Christmas tree in outline, partially decorated by one of the improved lighting outfits.

Fig.`6 is a crossl sectional view of a modified construction of lamp socket unit embodying the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the improved lamp socket unit shown in Fig. 6 with the parts separated 'and positioned ready for assembly.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a Christmas tree lighting outfit constructed to embody the invention which is seen to comprise 60.

a plurality (usually 8) miniature lamp sockets 11 connected in series circuit by insulated ilexible conductorwires 12. The free ends of conductor Wires have applied thereto a cap plug 13 for attaching the outt to a suitable electric power supply (not shown) in the well understood manner.f

One dominant feature of'the invention is the improved construction of said outt whereby y the parts thereof are made interchangeable and form separate complete units which are easily and quickly assembled and simple to intercon- -nect in circuit without requiring mechanical or electric skill or the use of tools. To this end, each conductor wire 12 has its ends terminated 75 by a suitable contact pin 14. Said wires 12 are replaceable and interchangeable with each other and may be made the same br of'difierent lengths to suit the requirement, the pins 14 thereof engaging with the circuit carrying parts of the sockets 11 and plug cap 13 in the manner hereinafter described.

The sockets may comprise a suitable molded insulating casing 15 having a chamber 16 ex tending in from an open end 15a thereof,A said 85 casing being formed Witha closed end 15b at the bottom end of said chamber. Snugly tted into the chamber 16 there is a metallic screw contact shell-member 17 which is adapted to receive-the base of a miniature lamp, indicated at L in dotted lines. See Fig. 2. l

Said shell at its inner end has a anged portion 17a which supports an insulated disc 18.A The latter carries the center contact member 19 of the socket. 95

The member 19 may be of any suitable construction and as here-shown comprises an eyelet rivet structure having springfgripping terminal connector ends 19a which extendcentrally into the chamber 16 between the disc 18 and 100 closed end 15b of the casing.

The anged portion 17a may have a spring gripping connector tongue 17h integrally formed therewith or attached thereto which also extends into the chamber. 16 adjacent `the ends 105 19a but spaced therefrom.

' The closed casing end 15b, has a pair of spaced passages 15e which register and align with the connectorends 19a and tongue l'lb.' The pins w 14 of the conductor wires 12 are inserted into flanged portion 17a.

said passages 15e to engage with said ends 19a and tongue 17b to form the circuit as is readil understood from Fig. 2. v

In order to facilitate assembling the shell 17 in the casing 15 in proper alignment with the passages 15e, the chamber 16 is formed' with a groove 16a. extending lengthwise thereof .which is adapted to receive a projection 20. The latter is preferably stamped from/a suitable part of the shell structure, as for example from the Said projection 20v in the groove 16a not only aligns the shell with relation tothe casing but also serves to retain said shell against any accidental rotatory movement in the chamber.

Each lamp socket 11 may be equipped with a suitable means for mounting the socket to a support. As here shown, said means comprise a spring clip 21 which has one end formed with a band 21a demountably anchored on a rim bead 15d which extends about the exterior side of the open end 15a of the casing. Said clip 21 has its free end 21h extending across said closed end 15b of the casing and has its mid-portion 21e extending up along the exterior side of the casing. The clip end 2lb is adapted to engage a support (not shown) for gripping the latter` against the closed end l15b of vthe casing for mounting the socket, Whereas the mid-portion 21e of the clip is adapted to' engage asupport (not shown) for gripping the latter against the side of the casing as is clearly understood from Fig. 2. This clip construction is particularly l desirable and convenient in applying the outfit side 13e of the body portion opposite side 13b has spaced passage 13d formed therein for receiving pins -14. on the wires 12. Said passage 13d aligns and registers with perforation 23a provided in the parts 23. The tips 14a of the pins enter said1 perforations and engage with the rim 23h thereof, said rims being slotted as at 23e and are shaped to form a spring gripped, scraping contact with said pin ends.

The practical application of the invention will now be apparent. With the sockets 11, conductor wires 12 and cap plug 13 constructed to form separate units as shown in drawing, an outfit comprising a plurality of sockets 11, each provided with a lamp L of suitable voltage, may be mounted on the Christmas tree shown in outline at T in any desired position. See Fig. 5. First the sockets 11 may be mounted in position. Then the conductor wires 12 of suitable lengths are `used to interconnect the sockets in series circuit. This is accomplished simply by inserting a pin 14 of each wire 12 in one socket, the opposite pin 14 on the end of the same wire in an adjacent socket, and the remaining free end pins inserted in the passages 13d of the plug 13 to connect with the terminal blades l22.

It should be noted that the mounting operation of the outfit is not hampered by a restriction in the' lengths ofwires between sockets as is usually the case where the latter are permanently interconnected.

As seen from Fig. 5, the sockets are generally not spaced a uniform distance apart with respect to the wiring so that with the improved outfit 10, the propery lengths of conductor wires may be used to extend or contract the length of the outfit thereby permitting Ineater wiring installation to be made since all slack and loose wires can be eliminated. With the outfit 10 all the units are readily interchangeable and defective ones may be replaced without Kdisturbing the remaining units.

A plurality of outfits 10 (two to four) can be connected in parallel circuit to one plug cap 13 as is readily understood from Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Christmas tree outfits are generally constructed to connect with power mains of standard voltage, such as 6, 32 or 110, etc. Under these conditions, thev lamps are designed to giveipredetermined light intensities. It often happens that a low intensity of light and an increased number of light sources would be desirable. This latter condition of operation is made available with the outfit 10 by simply adding one or more sockets 11 in the series circuit.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a modified form of the invention. Here the lamp socket' 111 comprises a molded insulating casing 115 in which the screw shell is snugly fitted. The conductor wires 112 are provided with bare ends. One end 112a of a wire 112 is adapted to be inserted under the iianged rim -119a of the eyelet fastener forming the center contact 119 of the socket 111. Said contact is carried on an insulating disc 118 demountably carried by the inner end 117a of the shell 117. A bare end 112b of the other wire 112 y is adapted to be wrapped about the exterior side of the shell, as shown.

A single passage 115e may be provided at the closed end 115b of the casing 115 through which the wires 112 pass for connecting with the center contact 119 and the shell 117. The chamber 116 of the casing may be provided with two grooves 116a and 1166 extending lengthwise thereof. One of the grooves 116e has the projection 120 from the shell extending therein to prevent relative rotation between the shell and casing. The other groove 116b provides a clearance for the conductor wire 112 which connects with the shell 117 so that the socket parts may be readily assembled.

The parts of the socket 111 and wires 112 are connected for assembly as shown in Fig. 7 and the shell 117 inserted into the casing. The walls of the chamber wedge the bare end 112b of the wire 112 against the shell 117 and forms a good electrical contact after the shell is inserted in the casing. The screwing of the lamp into the socket causes the flange rim 119e of the eyelet to be pressed hard against the underlying end 112e of the Wire and thereby improves the electrical contact connection.

The free ends of the wires 112 from one or more'outflts constructed with sockets 111 may be connected to the current carrying parts of a standard plug cap (not shown) in the well understood manner. i

For mounting the socket 111 to a support, an improved demountable gripping meansis provided. Said means comprise a band 121 adapted to encircle the socket adjacent the closed end 1151) thereof. Said band has a spring finger 121e extending across the exterior of closed end 115b of the casing and another finger 121b extending along the side of the casing. Each ringer is adapted to engage a support and to grip it either message@ against said closed end or side ot the socket as is readily understood from Fig. ii.,

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects ol' this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions o! practical uw,

As various possible embodiments might be made o! the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sensen Having thus described my invention, I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A Christmas tree lighting outfit comprising a set of structural elements for assembly on the Christmas tree "in, relatively variable relation,

some of said elements being in the form of conductor cords differing in length from each otherv each having a plug terminal at each end thereoi, other of said elements being in theform of single lamp sockets, each having a pair of sockets for detachably receiving the plug terminals from any pair oi' cords, and a detachable plug having a pair of plug terminals for connecting to a source of power and also having sockets to receive the plug terminals from any pair ot cords, whereby the said elements may be assembled to illuminate a Christmas tree in any manner desired, and the lamp sockets may be spaced and arranged in any suitable manner to form an illuminated Christmas tree of neat appearance and having its conductor cords neatly noms annum.

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